lestee



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J LESTER.

COTTON STALK GRUSHER.

No. 398,418. Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. LESTER.

GOTTON STALK GRUSHER' Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

a I a c a e UNlTED STATES PATENT JAMES LESTER, OE PROSPERITY, SOUTHCAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALF TO HANDSON C. MOSELEY, OF SAME PLACE.

COTTON 'STALK CRUSHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,413, dated February26, 1889.

Application filed September 3, 1838. Serial No. 284,424. (No model.)

To on whom it may cone/1r..-

Be it known that I, JAMES LESTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Prosperity, in the county of Newberry and State of SouthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCotton-Stalk Crushers; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear and exact description of the invention, which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to machines for crushing cotton-stalks; and itsobject is to provide an improved machine of this character possessingadvantages in point of simplicity and inexpensiveness in constructionand durability and general efficiency in operation.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a machineembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same. Fig. 3is a central longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a verticaltransverse sectional view on the line no a, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is asectional view taken through one of the wheels. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective view of the axle.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the frame of the machine,whichis preferably rectangular and comprises the transverse front and rearbeams, a a, respectively, and the longitudinal side beams, a a To thebeam at is secured the tongue or pole B, carrying the doubletree b orother suitable devices. The pole is secured in position by means ofbraces formed preferably of metallic plates 0, having a straight frontend portion, 0, secured against the side of the pole, as shown. Fromtheir front securing portion these plates diverge rearwardly and extendalong the outer faces of the side beams", a 64 as shown at c, nearly tothe rear end of the same and are secured thereto. The front ends of theside beams preferably project beyond the beam a and have their frontends, 0 beveled, as shown, to accommodate the angle of the plates 0 andbrace the same. These plates preferably correspond in width to the sidebeams, and by reason of the construction and arrangement just described,involving the extension of the plates nearly to the ends of the sidebeams, the whole frame is securely braced and a simple and more durablemachine provided.

D designates the axle, which is secured in suitable brackets, E,depending from the under side of the side beams. These brackets arepreferably provided with a rectangular eye or opening, 6, in which arereceived the corresponding rectangular ends, (Z, of the axle. Thecentral portion, cl, of the axle is enlarged, as shown, thus forming twoshoulders, d (P, between which and their respective side beams aremounted the wheels or crushers F. The portions of the axle between theshoulders (Z and the rectangular ends I) are cylindrical, as shown atcl, and upon these cylindrical portions the wheels revolve.

Each wheel is formed of two disks, G G, having cylindrical eyes orbearings g for the accommodation of the axle. These disks are somedistance apart, (in practice about two feet,) and are connected by thetransverse knives H. The latter are preferably formed of steel, whilethe disks may be constructed of iron. The outer faces, (1', of the disksare preferably concave, so that they hear at the central eye or bearingportion against the shoulders 04 and inner face of the brackets E.

The transverse knives II are formed of blades mounted at the peripheryof the disks,

and having their ends preferably seated and secured in transversegrooves or recesses h in the periphery of the disks. The knives areapproximately equidistant, and are radially disposed with relation tothe center or bear ing of the wheel. They do not project beyond theperiphery of the wheel, and have their cutting-edge h about on the planeof the periphery thereof. By this improved arrange ment of the knivesthey have a direct action upon the stalks as the wheels revolve duringthe movement of the machine, and thus more efficiently operate toproperly crush the .same.

I-designat-es the drivers seat, which is relatively located between thewheels, and is sup ported at its front by an upright, J, preferablyformed of a plate and mounted upon the central enlarged portion, (1, ofthe axle The front face of the portion d may be provided with adovetailed recess, j, in which is seated and secured the correspondingdovetailed lower end y", of the plate or standard J. A more secureattachment is formed by this construction, and the seat is retainedagainst vertical or lateral displacement. Upon the rear beam, a, isprovided an upwardly and forwardly inclined standard, K, which issecured to the rear portion of the seat. By means of this arrangement ofstandards K and J it will be observed that the axle is firmly locked tothe frame, and that any longitudinal play or movement of the axle isentirely obviated, the fact of the front standard being broadened in theform of a plate and secured in the dovetailed manner just described.contributing largely to this result, as will be obvious.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exactconstruction and arrangement herein shown and specified, but reserve theright to all such modifications as properly fall within the spirit andscope of my invention and claims.

Whatl claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentis- 1. The combination, with the frame comprising the transverse rearbeam, and with the axle fixedor locked against rotary movement andprovided with a dovetailed recess in the front face of its centralportion, of the upright front standard formed by a plate having adovetailed lower end corresponding to said recess, the rear standardsecured upon the rear beam and projecting upwardly and forwardly, andthe seat mounted upon and connecting said standards, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the frame comprising the side beams, and theaxle having an enlarged central portion forming shoulders and having itsends rigidly connected to the side beams, the portion of the axlebetween said shoulders and fixed ends being cylindrical, of the wheelsmounted upon said cylindrical bearing portion and comprising transverseblades or knives connecting the end bearing-disks, the outer face of thelatter being convexed substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A cotton-stalk crusher comprising the frame having the front and rearbeams and side beams, the tongue or pole secured to the front beam, andrearwardly-divergent braces secured to the pole and side beams, thetransverse stationary axle comprising a central porti on formingshoulders (1 the cylindrical portion (1 and having its ends fixed inbrackets upon the side beams, the wheels comprising disks mounted uponsaid cylindrical portions and connected by radially-disposed blades orknives having their cutting-edge about on the plane of the periphery ofthe wheel, and standards projecting from the central portion of the axleand rear beam of the frame and supporting the seat, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

4:. The herein-described cotton-stalk crusher, comprising a rectangularframe, a tongue projecting centrally from the center of the front beamthereof and braced by rods connecting it with the frame, an axle rigidlymounted upon the latter and provided with a central enlarged portionforming shoulders and with cylindrical end portions, wheels looselymounted upon the cylindrical portions, consisting of two disks havingconvex outer faces connected by radially-disposed knives, the transversecutting-edge of the latter being about on a plane with the periphery ofthe disks, and a seat mounted upon standards, the front one of whichbeing provided with a dovetailed lower end adapted to be received by acorresponding recess in the central enlarged portion of the axle, whilethe latter one is connected with the rear beam of the frame, saidstandards being adapted to brace the axle, all arranged and adapted tooperate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES LESTER.

Witnesses:

.Tos. H. HUNTER, GEO. S. MOWER.

